India wants details on its diamond traders’ arrest in China

New Delhi, Jan 12 (IANS) India has sought from its embassy in Beijing details about the reported arrest of 21 Indian diamond traders by Chinese authorities in Shenzhen. “We have sought details from the Indian embassy,” Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao told reporters here when asked about the incident.

The external affairs ministry is in touch with Ambassador S. Jaishankar, she said. “We are waiting for his report,” she added.

According to TV reports, 21 Indian diamond traders who hail from Surat, Gujarat, were arrested on smuggling charges in Shenzhen.

The incident comes at a time when Chinese nationals working on various infrastructure projects in India have complained of a host of problems, including issues relating to their visas.

Three Chinese engineers were arrested in Korba town in Chhattisgarh Monday for chimney crash in the Balco plant in which 41 workers were killed in September last year. The Chinese were Tuesday shifted to a district hospital in Korba town after they complained of health problems.